Monday, February 8, 2010

Tulsa passes its gut check test

After a heartbreaking loss in Bakersfield on Saturday, the Tulsa 66ers desperately needed a win tonight in Los Angeles. That's exactly what the 66ers got tonight in a 101-100 nailbiter at the Staples Center.

It was looking way too familiar to 66ers fans tonight as Tulsa built a big lead and saw it melt away, just like Saturday night in Bakersfield. However tonight, Tulsa was able to hold on to its lead, despite being outscored 32-21 in the final period.

I mentioned in my last blog how Deron Washington would want to make it a return to remember in his first trip back to Los Angeles, and he did just that tonight. In a little less than 35 minutes of play, Washington had 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

Latavious Williams had what is becoming a standard night for the budding star, grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with 15 points. Mustafa Shakur? Another solid performance with 21 points. Williams and Shakur are becoming players who can be counted upon night after night. It's the production off the bench that is becoming more and more critical to Tulsa's success.